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AVALON, Calif. - Firefighters struggled early Friday to protect a resort island's main city from a wildfire that forced hundreds of residents to flee on ferries as ash rained down "like snow," by one resident's account.

One home and a few small businesses in the canyons outside the city burned, but the weather helped firefighters keep most properties safe, Fire Chief Steven Hoefs said. Some 1,200 homes were under voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders.

TRIMDON, England - Tony Blair said Thursday he would step down as prime minister on June 27, closing a decade of power in which he fostered peace in Northern Ireland and followed the United States to a war in Iraq that cost him much of his popularity.

In a somber farewell, Blair made way for Treasury chief Gordon Brown to take the top post. The British leader looked overcome with emotion, struggling to retain his trademark broad grin as loud cheers rang out.

You are likely to be ready to go through a weeding-out process with a number of unproductive relationships that haven't served you well. They'll be replaced with new pals who have something beneficial to offer.

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am writing in response to a letter concerning a person with stomach and bowel problems. Medical testing provided no clues as to the illness, and medications only made the person ill. You suggested further testing and hypothesized that the person might be suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Is it possible that the person has celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, for which simple dietary changes might make all the difference in health without the fancy pharmaceuticals you suggested?

DEAR ABBY: I have been in a horrible marriage for eight years. My husband, "Greg," has a lot of problems from his childhood and has a hard time being in a relationship. I have recently learned that he was raped by a family member when he was a little boy. He seems to be in denial, and claims it didn't happen.

TAMPA, Fla. - With repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan leaving state National Guards without nearly half of their required equipment, some governors are loudly questioning whether they will be able to handle the next hurricane, wildfire or terrorist attack at home.

WASHINGTON - The Democratic-controlled House defeated legislation Thursday to require the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq within nine months, then pivoted to a fresh challenge of President Bush's handling of the unpopular war.

METTER - The Metter Tigers have had a rollercoaster season. The streaky team has been fortunate, however, because the winning streaks have been a whole lot longer than the losing streaks, and they are currently riding a hot streak into the first round of the Class AA State Playoffs.

Nelson and Diane Lightsey of Statesboro announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Shera Elizabeth Lightsey of Statesboro, to Michael Christopher Harper of Statesboro, son of Mike Harper of Buford, Ga., and Lee Schoch of Summerville, S.C.

Mr. and Mrs. Buck Sheffield of Statesboro announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Jessica D'Laine Sheffield, to David Allen Boss, son of Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Boss of Swainsboro.

Note: All information included in this report is taken from law enforcement incident reports and arrest records, which are public records and available for review at any and all local law enforcement agencies. Not every arrest leads to a conviction. Guilt or innocence is determined by the court system.

Forest Heights Pharmacy, located at 4439 Country Club Road, was founded by the late Joel Sikes in 2006. He was a long time Brooklet resident. Joel sold the business to Ben Ross in 2008 after he became ill. Ben is a second generation pharmacist/pharmacy owner who grew up working in his dad's pharmacy, Ross Drug, in Sylvania. Ben, his wife, Lauren and their two girls, Lanie and Lucy Kate, are active Bulloch County residents.

For Dr. Al Mooney, Director of Addiction Medicine and Recovery at Willingway, one of the key factors that distinguishes this week's Addiction Update Conference is its "focus on the solutions rather than the problems."